The "Ritchie Law Firm" was founded in 1992. The Firm is located 30 minutes from Tulsa, Oklahoma in the City of Pryor. The "Ritchie Law Firm" is presently comprised of three attorneys plus support staff including paralegal staff with the CLA designation. The Firm's attorneys and staff have a diversified background of experience. The experience of the Attorneys in the firm includes experience as municipal court judge, municipal court prosecutor, criminal defense for the indigent criminal defense system, and experiences outside of the legal profession in the fields of insurance, real estate, and accounting.
The Firm's practice is statewide for the state of Oklahoma however the primary geographical practice area of the Firm includes Tulsa County, Rogers County, Mayes County, Delaware County, Craig County, Cherokee County, Wagoner County, Creek County, Muskogee County, Adair County, Sequoyah County, Haskell County, and LeFlore County. In particular areas of the law such as Eminent Domain/Condemnation, Real Estate, and Personal Injury the Firm regularly practices in a much larger geographical area extending literally all across the State of Oklahoma.
The "Ritchie Law Firm" attorneys are each experienced and trained with an emphasis in different areas of law. As such, the Firm handles a number of types of legal cases and matters including but not limited to: Family Law, Divorce Law, Custody Law, Eminent Domain/Condemnation Law, Personal Injury Matters, Real Estate Law, Business Formation and Business Law, Wills, Trusts, Probate, Bankruptcy, Criminal Defense, Worker's Compensation Defense and Claimant Cases, and Social Security Disability Cases.
Recent news from the Firm includes:
The Firm recently obtained an $875,000.00 Jury Verdict in an eminent domain case in Southeastern Oklahoma near Durant, Oklahoma. The case involved proximity damages to a rural convenience store. State's evidence at trial was $291,000.00 while the landowner's position was $925,000.00.
The Firm recently obtained an $81,479.00 Jury Verdict in an eminent domain case in Southeastern Oklahoma, Marshall County. The case involved proximty damages to a print shop. State's evidence was approximately $27,000.00 while the landowner's position was $81,479.00.
Prevailed in an published appeal of an eminent domain case originating in LeFlore County, Oklahoma (Dept. Of Transportation vs. Kelly, et al., 2007 OK CIV APP 25; 156 P.3d 734) Issues were the improper inclusion of certain relocation payments in the District Court action which if allowed would preclude the landowner's ability to obtain the benefits through the less expensive process of the Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act. Also included the further issue of improper mandatory disclosure of dollar amounts of claims to Court Appointed Commissioners who are supposed to make an uninfluenced, independent assessement of an estimated amount of damages.
Recently Prevailed in an unpublished appeal of a roadway and boundary line dispute arising in Delaware County, Oklahoma. Issue on appeal was whether or not District Court erred in sustaining summary judgment in a matter concerning a claim to quiet title based on existence of roadway and fence line even though no deed or easement existed of record. The Appellees Petition for cert to the Oklahoma Supreme Court was denied by the Supreme Court.
Current Appellate Matters pending include:
- A litigated Jury Trial case involving the District Court not allowing reimbursement to a landowner in an eminent domain case of certain appraisal fees where two appraisers conducted appraisals of the property but only one testified in court.
- An Administrative Law Appeal involving Federal Relocation Benefits where a displaced residential landowner in an eminent domain case has appealed a relocation award based on an alleged irrational application of a ratio method in setting the amount of the award.
- An appeal of a District Court Case involving the issue of whether or not Commissioners in an eminent domain case may be reappointed for an amended Report Of Commissioners outside of the statutory 30 day time period for challenging the validity of the Report in the original proceeding.
- An appeal of a District Court Case involving the issue of whether or not an order for remittitur entered by the Court on Verdict of the Jury was proper. Case involved trial of an eminent domain case where verdict was in favor of landowner and verdict exceeded all testimony of appraisers in the case but was within the range of testimony offered by the landowner.
Congradulations to Ryan M. Roberts of The Ritchie Law Firm. Mr. Roberts was eleced President of the Mayes County Bar Association for the year 2008.
This web site contains general information concerning several areas of law in which the Firm practices. If you are in need of legal advice or assistance we hope the information presented will assist you by increasing your general understanding of the particular areas addressed. If the site does not contain information on the particular subject of your legal question please contact us and we will be happy to assist you by answering questions or directing you to other sources that can assist you.